Teddy Bear Ministry

Emmanuel Baptist Church has partnered with the Russell County Child Advocacy Center and the Jack Hughston Memorial Hospital in Phenix City, AL to supply them with Teddy Bears, hoping that it will bring some comfort to the child in a stressful and troubling time in their life. We have received many reports of how the children and the parents have been comforted by the bears calming presence for the children.

Alan Griffith, Pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church called Lynn Hammock, Executive Director of the Russell County Child Advocacy Center and asked if his congregation could assist the center by providing teddy bears to children who visit the center. It didn't take long for Mrs. Hammock's response to be "of course".

Approximately 150 children walk through the doors of the CAC to be interviewed for allegations of sexual abuse, severe physical abuse, and/or severe maltreatment and neglect. After every interview, a child gets to go to the shelf in the CAC conference room and pick out a stuffed animal to take home with him/her. It is just one way the CAC tries to provide comfort to those that come to the center to deal with issues that most don't want to admit even happen. "We have had children that have been coming to the center for therapy and support services for two years and awaiting trial or prosecution of their case and they still have the stuffed animal they picked out that very first day they walked through our front door". The stuffed animals provide a sense of security and also remind the children that no matter what, there is a team of people (CAC staff, DHR, DA's office, Law Enforcement, and Sexual Assault Nurses) that care about them and their well-being.

Emmanuel Baptist Church, wanting to impact the children of our community with the love of Jesus, has now partnered with the Russell County Child Advocacy Center and Jack Hughston Hospital in Phenix City to provide teddy bears to children as needed. “It is our hope that the Teddy Bears will bring some comfort at a critical point in their life and open the door for continued ministry opportunities.”